Carpenter's future uncertain after horrific car accident

Dubai: A young man in ward No 2 of Rashid Hospital has been lying unconscious for the past 16 months after being hit by a car.

The 24-year-old Sri Lankan carpenter came to work in the UAE three years ago to support his family back home.

Mohammad Ajmal Mohammad's father, who is himself unwell, has come from Sri Lanka to help his son.

Mohammad Ansar Abdul Rahim said his son was a victim of a horrific traffic accident.

"My son was admitted to hospital in April last year. He was brought unconscious to Rashid Hospital Emergency in a very bad condition after the accident," the father said. The father said Mohammad was put on a ventilator. A CT scan revealed severe brain oedema and multiple brain contusions.

Doctors said Mohammad's condition has improved considerably but he is still unconscious and is fed through tubes.

The 45-year-old father has renewed his visit visa for the last 9 months.

"My visa is sponsored by the accountant of Ajmal's company who is also from Sri Lanka. That man is the only visitor who sees my son from the company [which] abandoned my son after the accident."

The father himself is admitted in the same ward of Rashid Hospital due to diabetes and doctors fear his left leg below the knee may have to be amputated.

In a bid to save his leg, Abdul Rahim went back to Sri Lanka to seek treatment. Valley of Love, a Dubai-based charity, helped him to do so and he has returned after successful treatment. The family has no source of income and now has to deal with hospital costs.

In Sri Lanka, the father and son belong to a village in Central Province.

Abdul Rahim has a small grocery shop. He sold his property in a remote part of the village to buy a small house and make improvements to his shop.

He owes his brother Rs300,000 (Dh9,595). He has a wife, two sons and two daughters. "I am indebted Rs300,000 and the shop is now in great loss," he said.

"I left my village to come here to look after my son &we lost our shop too. I want to go home with my son but I have no clue how I will support him," the father said.